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Mandla Mandela's prepared speech, delivered at a media briefing on Thursday (July 4

2013).

Introduction

In the past few days, I have been the subject of attacks from all sorts of individuals wanting a

few minutes of fame and media attention at my expense. In the first instance I want to

express my disappointment at the decision taken by the Mthatha High Court yesterday. I

remain convinced that the decision of the court was erroneous as the Court granted a final

order in my absence so I was effectively denied the right to be heard. I will however not

challenge this further because it will serve no purpose.

I called this press conference to address a few matters that have been circulating in the

media at this time.

Locus Standi

Many people have been parading as the Mandela family and participating in the day to day

decision of the Mandela family. These individuals were part of the applicants in this matter of

the remains. I will make a few examples to illustrate my point on this matter. For instance:

Makaziwe Pumla Mandela-is the fourth child of Nelson Mandela from his first

marriage to Evelyn Mase. She married Camagu Balfour and had two children:

Tukwini and Dumani. She divorced and married Isaac Amuah and they have a son

called Kweku. She is in actual fact Mrs Amuah and ought to be focussing on Amuah

family. As my aunt, her role within Makgathos family is supposed to be that of a

unifier and reconciler but so far she has sown division and destruction in that family.

Tukwini Nobuhlali Mandela-is the daughter to Camagu Balfour and Makaziwe

Pumla. So, she belongs to the Balfour family. She has no business in the Mandela

matters

Dorothy Adjoa Amuah-is the daughter of Isaac Amuah outside his marriage to

Makaziwe Pumla Amuah. She has no business in the Mandela matters.

Kweku Gladiel Mandela-is the son of Isaac Amuah and Makaziwe Pumla Amuah.

He belongs to the Amuah family and has no business in the Mandela matters

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Most of the remaining individuals in the list of applicants on this matter has no business to be

discussing Mandela matters according to our customs. At the moment it seems like anyone

can come and say I am a Mandela and demand to be part of decision making process of the

family. Individuals have abandoned their own families and heritage and decided to jump on

the Mandela wagon.

The issue at hand that has fascinated the world is not only of interest because it is about the

remains of my grand-fathers children but it is curious because of the timing when it was

made an issue. We repatriated these remains in 2011 after following all the customary rituals

and protocols. For the past 2 years, the people on the list have never raised concerns about

the repatriation of these remains. Two years later when my grand-father is gravely ill in

hospital this matter is brought up as an extreme urgent matter. I am still struggling to date

why the matter is urgent now when it has never been urgent in the past two years.

Nevertheless I indicated to the family that the rightful claimant i.e. the children of the

deceased do have a right to repatriate the remains if now they are against them being in

Mvezo. The issue of the court came as a surprise to me since the rightful claimants were

aware of my position. The issue was different in as far as my own father Makgatho was

concerned because I hold the right to determine where he is buried.

Chieftainship Legitimacy

I am the Chief of Mvezo. This chieftaincy was expropriated from the Mandelas in the 1920s

with my great grandfather Nkosi Mphakanyisa Mandela exiled to Qunu. Seventy years later

we were offered an opportunity to assume our rightful place in the kingdom. Since my father

was late and my grandfather indicated that due to his age he cannot assume the

chieftainship, he asked me to take the responsibility. Though reluctant to leave my life and

trek to the rural area, my grandfather reminded me that my first responsibility should be thatof service to our people. I was duly installed with my grandfather and the current King

present in a ceremony attended by the family, traditional leaders across the country and our

political representatives.

There are individuals today who opportunistically make claims as to my legitimacy. These

individuals wait for all these years to start having these questions. If I was not the rightful

heir, I am sure these individuals would not have hesitated to oppose the greater family who

assigned me the responsibility to lead the Royal House of Mandela.

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Mvezo is a place still bedevilled by excessive poverty and unemployment. It has no

sanitation and water. It has a high school dropout and high level of HIV/AIDS infections. My

focus with the help of our ANC government is to deal with these challenges and to bring

development to the people of Mvezo. This I will continue to do together with the people of

Mvezo.

I saw in recent media coverage that the King is one of the people making adverse statement

about my legitimacy and accusing me of wanting to unseat him. This is laughable to say the

least. I think the King wants to make me a scapegoat from dealing with difficult dispute within

the Dalindyebo Royal House. I refuse to be part of those dispute and appeal to him to leave

me out.

As for my brother Ndaba who claims in media reports that I was born out of wedlock,

insulting my mother in the process, I want to remind him that I do not want to hand our dirty

linen as a family in public but he leaves me with no choice. He knows very well that my

father impregnated a married woman and he is the result of that act. His mother Zondi

Radebe was married to Mr Lucky Zachariah Mojahi. They were blessed with two children

Amanda and Sydney. As for the remaining two brothers, we all know they are not my

fathers children. Attempts to conduct a DNA test has been resisted.

Case of the children against Madiba

The individuals on this court are coincidentally the same as those that have instituted

proceedings against my grandfather. I seem to have angered people by distancing myself

from the case against Advocate George Bizos, Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Bally Chuene

appointed by Madiba to be in charge of Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique

Investment Holdings. I still refuse to be associated with court actions that are a clear

squabble over my grandfathers monies.

I am tired of people who want to use me for popularity and short term gains.